An example of a major reason that American democracy is in trouble.

From Robert Reich:

Psst: Don’t fall for a third party (pass it on)

The one and only thing that Democrats and Republicans agree on is that you must not ever vote for a third party.  You must vote for the Republican, or the Democrat.

No matter how much the Republicans appear to hate the Democrats, they agree that you must only vote for a Republican or a Democrat.

No matter how much the Democrats are horrified by the Republican Party, they agree on the same.

And so each party bows to its extremes.  The Marjory Taylor Greene's and company and "The Squad" are arguing over the wheel of the bus as the country goes careening into a ditch, but they all agree that you can't ask somebody else to drive the bus.

You can.

The "two party system" doesn't really exist constitutionally.  It's a construct, and one that needs to be broken.  It won't be, however, as long as you imagine you can only vote for two parties.